Not quite yet: Bulls still unranked

Even Saturday's upset at No. 17 Auburn wasn't enough to help USF make its national top 25 debut, as both polls released Sunday show the Bulls just barely on the outside looking in.

USF is 27th in the coaches' poll -- wouldn't be surprised if a couple of coaches had submitted their ballots before 12:49 a.m. Monday, when the Bulls finished their overtime win. How's this for awareness: USF quarterback Matt Grothe correctly predicted his Bulls wouldn't be ranked by the coaches.

"I don't think the coaches' poll gives a rat's (expletive) about us, and I don't think we will be ranked," Grothe said after USF's win. "A win (against North Carolina) is going to have to definitely solidify us in the top 25."

The Associated Press Top 25 has USF even closer, ranking 26th. With USF off this week, there's a very real possibility that the Bulls could slide into the polls next week without playing a game, just by other ranked teams falling in upsets.

USF coach Jim Leavitt isn't celebrating anything -- his team will have regular practices on Monday and Tuesday, with the first "Bull Bowl" of the season -- a scrimmage between reserves and redshirting players -- on Wednesday night. The Bulls are expected to have a light practice Thursday and then take the weekend, allowing coaches to do important recruiting evaluations in person on Friday.

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South Florida Bulls fans, you've come to the right place: the USF Sports Bulletin blog. Tampa Bay Times sportswriter Joey Knight, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin, and we invite your participation in the comments area. Follow the Times' coverage of USF athletics on Twitter.